As the year winds down, we often find ourselves spending more time toasting to the holidays or rushing around buying perfect gifts and less time at the gym or getting a good night's rest. If you're one of the millions of people across the country preparing to board a flight this week, here are a few ways to avoid getting sick or stressed out while travelling.

Maintaining an alternative food lifestyle while traveling in countries that do not understand or recognize vegetarianism as the moral/ethical/healthful imperative that it is to you, will always be a challenge. But there are ways to make it easier. After globe-trotting across every continent, 30+ countries, I've developed a few strategies to help keep my lean, mean, vegetarian machine meat-free on the hoof.

Beach vacations are probably the most unhealthy way to recharge your battery. Most people sit in the sun for too long risking burns, aging skin and skin cancer. Then add the impulse to snack too often, drink too much and move very little. But there is a way to be sure your beach vacation isn't killing you slowly.